Time To Hit The ROAD

Dorothy Ewels has some excellent tips to ensure you and your family have a stress-free journey to your holiday destination

- Dorothy Ewels

ONCE AGAIN, MANY PEOPLE will be taking to the roads this holiday season. Safety is of paramount importance as you traverse the highways and byways of our beautiful country, to make sure you and your loved ones arrive safe and sound at your destination.

Before embarking on that long journey, it’s best to do a major service to ensure your vehicle is in top shape. Here’s a detailed checklist:

• Check the brakes (including the handbrake), and adjust or replace as necessary.

• Replace the oil-, air- and fuel filters.

• For older cars, replace old spark plugs.

• Change your oil.

• Flush and replace fluids—brake, power-steering, clutch, gearbox and coolant (anti-freeze).

• Check the steering, suspension and exhaust.

• Check the gearbox, transfer, as well as the diffcasing and diffoil.

• Check the windscreen, wiper blades and wiper blade fluid.

• Check the tyres for tread wear and ensure the tyre pressure is correct. Make sure there’s a spare tyre and that it’s in good condition. Keep a tyre repair kit in the boot, in case of an emergency.

• Check the car’s timing, and set it correctly if necessary.

• Ensure all belts, hoses and lines (e.g. fuel) are in good repair, and keep some spares in case of an emergency.